Valve and actuator therefor



A. J. HILGERT VALVE AND ACTUATOR THEREFOR Nov. 1 1, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20. 1954 Nov. 11, 1958 A. J. HILGERT VALVE: AND AcTuAToR THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1954 NOV. 11, 1958 A, HlLGERT 2,859,931

VALVE AND ACTUATOR THEREFOR l Filed April 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

. 2,859,931 yVALVE AND ACTUA'roR JrlnREFoR` :Adolph J. Hilgert,'-Milwaukee,=Wis., assignor to-Baso In c.,.a-co rporation-.of Wisconsin .Application AtprilZQ, 1954, Serial No..424,854 3 Claims. (Cl. 251- -86) :ThisLinventionfrelates, `irl-general, to valves,` and has .-particularrelation to an improved valve and actuator therefor. The present application is a continuation-inf Y ,part of vmy copending application, Serial'No. 194,507, fi1ed1iNovember'7, 1950 and n ow abandoned.

`.While the particular tdevicewhich I shall describe hereinafter inv connectionl with the drawings is adapted Vfor V use-'for controlling the flowof gaseous fuel'to a burner aandis shown'in-connection with an electromagnetic control device of the character disclosed and claimed in the :copending application of -C arl -Wolif, Serial No. 194,595, .iiledNovember 7,1950, new Patent No. )2,687,501, it is to be understood thatl the device of the present invenf tion may be used for controlling the flow of otherjfluids Y and for other Vsimilar purposes as suitable or desired.

In prior practice -it `has been Acustomary to provide between the valve disc and the vactuator .a pivotalor other suitable connection which will permit ,selfaccom- 4modation ofthe valve facing to thevalveseat when the valve vis in closed position.' In some of theseprior Vart vdevices Vconsiderable difliculty has .been experienced in causing the valve to seal properly against the valve seat. lWithout proper sealing of the valve against the valve seat when in closed position leakage will occur, which is undesirable and,in -the case of gaseous fuel, may be dangerous.

`I have found 'that the reason'for this difficulty .in obtaining proper sealing of the valve to the valveseat was l'dneto-too much spacing .between ythe pivotal orother yielding connection between the valve member .and the -valve actuator and the plane of the valve facing which seats against-the valveseat. vWith too muchsuchspacingf the valve facing wipes 'laterally over the valverseat to toov great anrextent'as the valve moves `to closed posixtion, and where there is, f or example,.a `spring or ,other rneans for seating the valve, such means maynothave i suflicient force to overcome the,friction, and vthefvalve will rvnotv close properly.

` One of the main objects of the present .invention :is to overcome Athese 'diiculties previously ,encountered and provide an improved valve and actuator with which-the valvewill seal properly against the-valve seat.

j Another object of the invention is to provide an improvide 'valve and actuatorwith, which .the valve` will not vwipe laterally over the valve seat to an objectionable extent in closing against the .valve seat, or otherwise produce Africtionjwhich will lprevent proper closingof the valve.

Another object ofthe inventionis to vprovide an'imi proved valve and actuator therefor of simple, compact, and *relatively inexpensive construction, and in whichthe pivotal or other yielding connection :between the .valve Patented. Nov. 11 .19.5.53

ICC

:member-andthe actuator is brought up as close as ,pos-

siblevto the plane of the'valve facing which seats against the valve seat.

Further objects f and advantages and numerous adapta- .-tions of the invention-willappear fromy the followingde- ;tailed.descriptionftaken'in connection with ltheV accom- :;bodying the-present invention, with `the cover of ythe electromagnetic control device removed;

Figure 12o'is'1av sectional view partially in elevation, taken .through the-electromagnetic operator substantially .onfthefline 2 2 l'of -Figure 1 and showing the Avalve .bodyin section; I

. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 .of'Figure-l; v A

Figure 4' is a fragmentary detail .view showingthe valve andv actuator vtherefor partially in section and par- ;tially in elevation;

'FigurefS is a diagrammatic yview showinghow lateral vwiping Tof the valve over the valve seat `takes place according to 4prior practice; and

`Figure-'ois a diagrammatic view showing howV this later-a'l`wiping4 ofthe valve .over the Valve seatlin ythe 'rclos'ing movemcnt of Athe valve isreduced ,with t lie .valve Land'l actuator ofgthe present invention.

, of the :having a fluid Iinlet 2 and `a uidfoutlet 3. member-54 cooperates with a valveseat 5 at. the. outlet fftocontrol the ow of fluidthrough the-valve body; for example, theflow of gaseous fuel toa -burner not shown), orany other fluid. ,It ,willbe noted .that the controlled 1luidtends to 'hold the valve .member Y54 closed. This may, of course, vary within .the .scope of thepresent invention.

The valve body 1 has `an opening 6 covered by a plate 47 which is securedinplace over the opening i6,.forexample, byfscrews 8. (Figure 2). Sealing means9fvispref `erabl'y interposed between plate 7 and valve body lThe lplate'7 is preferably .formed of high specific resistance non-magnetic material, such asstainless steel.

'Phe-particular magnetic. core 10 selected for illustration? is of `vgenerally rectangular .conguratiom comprising apair lof parallel legs.11 .and 12 magnetically connected at spaced 'locations by parallel legs 1in-.and 14 disposed .at-rightangles to'the .legs 1 1 and `12. .An alternating current pri-mary winding 1'5 is wound around .the-leg 14, anda secondary winding 1 6 is wound around the leg '13. -ItA is to be understood, however, that-either winding '-15 or-winding 16 may be the primary winding, `.and either-winding may be the secondary winding without affecting 'the operation of the device. Electricypowerfor energizing the winding 15 is supplied from l:asuitfabl-e source, for example, from line wires 17and` 18 of ya suitable-sourceof alternating current such as ,afhouse- -holdfcurrentsupply line of the type which averages about -ll5-volts. The yterminals of the `winding .15 .are connected-tothe Aline wires 1 7 and 1 8 by conductors 19 and 220.

t cylinder `ist-made up of square stock, and has .anlagneticend 2-1,v anon-magnetic section 22, and` amagnetic section U23-,separated Vfrom the magnetic. section ifl by the non-magnetic --section 22. The non-magnetic slcc- 34 is free Vto travel in the annular air gap 33. sleeve 34 is preferably made of electrolytic copper of f54 as will hereinafter appear. `vided with suitable washers 60 and 61 respectively, attach 'non-magnetic section 22 and magnetic section 23 tothe tion'22 may be formed of non-magnetic high specific 'resistance material, such as stainless steel, or any suitable plastic, or other non-magnetic material. The legs 11 and 12 have projecting ends which abut at spaced locations against the magnetic end 21 and magnetic section 23, and are secured thereto, for example, by screws 24 and 25. The screws f24 cooperate with anges 26 on the magnetic end 21 and with angular brackets 27 secured to the core 10 at 28. The screws 25 cooperate with flanges 29 on magnetic section 23 and with angular 'brackets 30 secured to core 10 at 31. end 21 has an integral magnetic sleeve 32 which extends through the tubular non-magnetic section 22- and into 'l the tubular magnetic section 23 with an The magnetic vnnular space or air gap 33 therebetween. f

A non-magnetic and electric conducting cup or sleeve The high conductivity, and is necked or gathered in Aat one end to form a neck 35 of reduced diameter. An actuating member 36 is secured on neck 35 by a nut 37.v A

,'guide stem 38 is press-fitted as at 39 in the-neck 35.

The guide stem 38 rides n abearing 40 press-fitted tovthe sleeve 32 at its right hand end as the device is shown in Figure 2. A bearing 41 is secured by a nut 42 to the left hand end of the guide stem 38. The bearing I41 may be formed of gear pinion stock, and has a smooth radius 43 to permit of low friction motion for the stem 38.

' With the parts positioned as shown in Figure 2, the `nut 37 is spaced from a projecting stem 44 to provide lost motion therebetween for a purpose which will pres- 'ently appear. The stem 44 is screwed and secured by a nut 45 to a crank 46. The actuating member 36has an arm 47 which carries a pin 48. The pin 48 operates rin a slot 49 in the crank 46 as will be hereinafter more A`fully described. The crank 46 is splined or keyed on an actuator shaft 50 which projects laterally from the 'jposition of the electromagnetic operator as shown in'4 Figure 3, and has a valve operating arm 52 staked or 'otherwise secured to the shaft 50 at 53 so that turning of the shaft 50 will swing the arm 52 to open and close Ithe valve 54. The position of the nut 37 relative to the stem44 may be adjusted by replacing the lock shim `55 with lock shims of different thickness, or by using a ,plurality of shims.

The actuating member 36 may have an integral hook 56 for cooperation with the stem 44 in closing the valve Screws 58 and 59, pro- -plate 7. Upon the absence of substantial lmagnetic ux in the gap 33, a spring 62 coiled about the stem 38 and acting against the bearings 40 and 41 urges the stem 38,

'and accordingly the sleeve 34, toward the left as the 'device is shown in Figure 2. Additional support for the Vterminal 68 of the thermostat 66 to the other end of the secondary winding 16. The thermostat 66 may be positioned in a room or other space, or it may be placed where it will be subject to the temperature of a heater, or otherwise disposed as desired. It is also contemplated that the device 66, instead of being a temperature respon- `sive thermostat, may be any other condition responsive means or other device for opening and closing Vthe circuit of the secondary coil 16, as suitable or desired.

For the purpose of eliminatingnoise in the actuating mechanism between the actuator of the electromag- 'netically responsive device and the actuated device, a spring 70 is provided. This spring 70 may be in the form of a leaf spring of beryllium copper or other suitable material. It is fastened at one end between the nut 45 and crank 46, and has a V-shaped portion the free leg 71 of which is positioned for engagement with the pin 48 in the valve closing operation. When the actuator moves to the right from the position shown 1n Figure 2 the pin 48 contacts the spring leg 71 and the spring absorbs the vibrations so that no low level, hlgh frequency noise can be heard.

In the operation of the device as shown in the drawa ings, the primary winding 15 is always energized from the line wires 17 and 18 or other suitable source of power. With the thermostat 66 in position separating its contact 68 from contact65, the circuit for the secondary winding 16 is open and this winding is not energized. At this time the magnetic flux established by energization of the primary winding or coil 15 passes through the legs 11, 12, 13, and 14of the coil 10, and very little linx passes through Ythe air gap 33, for example, from the magnetic sleeve 32 of the member 21 to the magnetic sleeve section 23.

When, however, for example, the temperature to which thermostat 66 is responsive falls, the thermostat closes the contact 68 into engagement with contact 65. This closes the circuit of the secondary winding 16, and current is induced in this winding by the energization of the .primary winding 15. This current induces a Ymagnetic ux which opposes the magnetic ux established in leg V13 by the primary winding 15. As a result the yflux Yestablished by the winding 15 is diverted, for example, `through the magnetic member 21, sleeve portion 32 fthereof, through air gap 33 to magnetic sleeve member Y23, and through this member back through the leg 14 ,of the core 10.

Since' the sleeve 34 is, in effect, a closed loop of good conductivity, there is induced in sleeve 34 an alternating current of opposite polarity to thatimpressed upon the ,winding 15. This alternating current so induced in turn induces an alternating ux iield about the sleeve 34. The Ypolarity of at least a portion of the field thus induced opposes the 'magnetic ux establishedby the energization of the winding 15. As a result the sleeve 34 is repulsed lor repelled outwardly or to the right (Figure 2) out of the air gap 33. This causes movement of the actuator Vnut 37 and actuating member 36 to the right from the position shown in Figure 2.

, As the sleeve 32 moves to the right, the nut 37 and Ystem 38 move to the right with the sleeve 32 and the nut 37 strikes the head at the .outer end of the stem44 and swings the crank 46 clockwise (Figure 2)v with accompanying clockwise rotation of the shaft 50, The lost motion between the nut 37 and stem 44 providespfor engaging the stern 44 with a hammer blow effect, which overcomes any friction, sticking, or holding of the valve 54 closed, and initiates the opening movementYof the valve 54., The pin 48, which moves to the right with the actuating member 36, travels freely in the slot 49 until the nut 37 strikes the head of the stem 44.

It will be noted that the mechanical advantage between the nut 37 and the head of the stem 44 relative to the `rotatable shaft 50 is considerably greater than the mechanical advantage between the pin 48 and the upper surface of the slot 49 as the device is shown in Figure 2. Hence in initiating opening of the valve 54 operated by the shaft 50, a high mechanical knock 01T force is obtained through the linkage mechanism. After the valve 54 is unseated, less force is'required to move it 'to its fully opened position. Accordingly, the pinv 48 strikes the upper inclined surface 73 of the lslot 49 'to impart with a given movement of the actuating member v36 increased swinging movement to the crank .46, and thereby increased and faster movementY of the valve to its fully opened position is obtained. i

When the valve 54 reaches its fully opened position it will stay in such open position as'long as magnetic tlux, or at least sufficient magnetic ux, passes through the gap 33 to maintain the sleeve` 34'in 'its repulsed or repelled position.

,-winding is again short-circuited through core legs 11,

12, 13, and 14, and very little ux will exist in the air gap 33. Hence the spring 62 will then move the guide stem 38, and accordingly the sleeve 34, actuating member l36, and nut 37 toward the left as the device is shown in Figure 2. In such movement the pin 48 engages the lower surface of the'slot 49 and causes rapid motion of the valve 54 in valve closing direction. After a predetermined motion toward closed position or just short of fully closed position, the head of the stem 44 is engaged lby the hook 56 of the actuating member 36. This produces a final closing force with a hammer effect and mechanical advantage similar to the knock olf openingy action between the nut 37 and stem-44 to complete the closing of the valve with a relatively great force.

While I have shown and describedafluxA diverting secondary winding 16 and associated core portion, it is to be understood that the lsecondarywinding 16 and the cooperating core portion may be `omitted withinfthe scope of thefpresent invention. In such case the thermostat or other means may beplaced directly in the circuit between theprimary winding and the line conductors 17 and 18. This will .provide a line voltage Vdevice which is rendered voperable by energization of the primary winding 15 and rendered inoperable by openingthe circuit for the primary winding.

-In the `operation of the valve.54 to open position, the

rpin 48 moves into contact withl.the free leg 71 -of the V-shaped portion of the vspring 7,0. -As a result, when the valve 54 is open, the spring70 absorbs vibrations, and there will not be anylow level, high frequency noise such as may otherwise occur by vibration of the pin 48 against the upper jinclined surface at the Vouter end of the slot 49. The spring 70, instead of engaging the pin 48, may

engage the outer surface of the slotted portion of the crank 46 to absorb the vibrations for the purpose set forth.

As` shown more in detail in Figure 4, the valve 54 may comprise a valve disc 80 having on one side thereof a rounded circumferential rib 81. The disc 80 also has a hub 82 and an axial opening'83. A pin 84 has pressed fit .at-"85 in a pin 86, and the pin 84 has a generallyk conical head 87 which is coined or pressed against the edge of disc 80 at the adjacent end ofthe opening 83 to form a depressed seat for the head 87 of the pin 84. A cylindrically yshaped extended portion 87a is formed on head 87 for loose fitting engagement within opening 83 of disk 80. 'Such engagement prevents substantial lateral movement between disk 80 andpin 84 while permitting pivotal movement therebetween. A washer or shim 88 is interposed between the head 87 of pin 84 and the adjacent end of the pin 86. A sleeve 89 has a tight, pressed t in the hub 82, and during assembly of the valve member 54 is initially pressed into snug endwise seating engagement with the shim or washer 83 to thereby cause the head 87 of the pin 84 to snugly engage the disc 80 at the margin of the opening 83. The outer end of the pin 86 is then struck with a hammer blow to coin or press the relatively hard head 87 of the pin 84 into the relatively soft material of the disc 80, to form the aforementioned depressed seat and at the same time to produce a slight clearance or looseness between the inner end of the sleeve 89 and the washer or shim 88 as shown. The head 87 of the pin 84 is thus held loosely against its seat in the valve disc 80 to permit rocking movement of said valve disc on the head 87 of the pin 84.

In the aforedescribed structure, the washer or shim 88 may be made of relatively inflexible or non-resilient material. If desired, however, the washer 88 may be made of resilient or flexible material, and the sleeve 89 may have a relatively snug endwise seating fit against said washer to hold the head of the pin 84 relatively snugly against its seat in the valve disc 80. The resilience of the washer 88 permits rocking movement of the valve disc 80 on the head 87 of said pin in spite of the aforementioned relatively snug fit between the end of the sleeve 89- and said washer.

The valvearm 52is apertured at its lower end at.90to fit over the adjacent end ofthe pin .86 and is secured between a ange 91 integral with the pin 86 and a nut 92 screwed onto the pin 86. The valve disc 'S0-or at least the portion of` this disc in which the head 87 is seatedvis preferably formed of a softer material suchvas aluminum, brass, or'the like, and the head 87 is preferably formed of harder material such as vstainless steel or the like. Y y' A resilient ring 93 ofv-neoprene, which is a synthetic rubber, or of other suitablematerial, is mounted within the circumferential rib 81 of the valve disc 80. A freely stretchable membrane 94 is stretched over and covers the inner side of lthe-valve disc assembly, and is secured in place, 'for example, peripherally by a circumferential retention ring 95. The membrane 94 may be formed, for example, of high temperature plastic material or other suitable material which is vresistant to gaseous hydrocarbons.

The valve seat 5 is `pressed in the outlet 3 Witha sealing ywasher 97 between v.its .ange98 and lthe valve body 1.

.With Vthe valve assembly shown and described, the cooperation of ithevhead..87 of pin 84 withits seatat the adjacent end of zthe opening`83 in lthe valve disc 80 provides a fulcrum or` centering swivel between the pin- 84-and the valve disc `which is disposed upas close as possible to the back side of the membraneiu94. As aresult, the

Vvalye 54 does ,not wipe laterally.anyappreciable extent as it swings to closed position. The valve spring L62 `will therefore have su'icient forcetoseat thevalveagainst the valveV seat5,.and the lvalve disc 54,will ,seal satisfactorily.

-As the valve 54 movestto closed position, the .portion Vof the membrane '94 which -seats against .the valveseat 96 is backed bythe resilient ring93 whichk takes the. stress off of the membrane94.

yIn Figure-5.1 have shown more or less schematically lhow lateral wiping of the valve over the valve ,seat takes 'between the valve 54 and the actuator is shown in close proximity to the plane of the valve facing e and, more particularly, within the plane of the valve disc. As a result the valve has very little or substantially no lateral wiping action over the valve seat 5 in moving to closed position, and the valve will at all times seal properly against the valve seat 5 in its movement to closed position by the spring 62 (Figure 2).

An annular or O-shaped ring 100 (Figure 3) of neoprene or other material which is resistant to gaseous hydrocarbons ts in an annular groove 101 in the shaft 50, and by cooperation with the shaft 50 and with the inner periphery of the opening 101 in the member 7 forms a gas seal for preventing leakage of gas out along the shaft 50 from the interior of the valve body 1. The O- yor ring seal 100 has negligible rotational friction.

As shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3, the electromagnetic control device is enclosed within a housing 102 which may be removably secured in place to the plate or member 7, for example, by screws 103. The sides of the housing 102 may have longitudinal corrugations yor folds 104, and the outer surface of the housing 102 may have louvers or openings 105.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawings and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a definition ofthe limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Vover the outer sides of said valve disk bination, a valve disk having a circumferential rib on one side, a resilient ring mounted within said rib, an

inwardly extending circumferential flange on the valve disk extending into position within the plane of said ring, a freely stretchable and imperforate membrane stretched and said ring and secured at its outer periphery and outwardly of the outer periphery of said resilient ring to said valve disk, said ange having an axial Vseat formed with an opening, an actuator pin connected to said valve disk and having a generally conical head seated for swiveling on said axial seat and within the plane of said resilient ring, said conical head being formed with an extended portion positioned within said opening in said flange, said pin having an abutment thereon, and a hub on said valve disk provided with an annular shoulder cooperating with said abutment to hold the conical head of said actuator pin in operative relation with the seat on said flange, positioning of said extended portion within said opening in said ange preventing substantial lateral movement between said pin and .said valve disk while permitting said swiveling movement to afford self accommodation of the valve disk to a valve seat with a minimum of lateral wiping of said membrane on said valve seat as said disk is moved with said pin toward said valve seat.

2. A valve comprising a valve disk having aradial web provided with a tubular hub projecting from one side of said web, an annular rib projecting from the opposite side of said web near the outer periphery thereof, an annular resilient ring seated within said rib and against the aforementioned side of said web, a thin freely stretchable and imperforate membrane covering the outer side of said resilient ring and adjacent surfaces of said rib and web and secured marginally to said web, an annular ange tapering inwardly from said web from position adjacent to the inner periphery of said ring to position in close proximity to said membrane, a second seat in said inner end of said annular flange in close proximity to said membrane, said annular flange being formed with an opening adjacent said second seat, an actuating pin having a generally conicalhead -seated in said second seat and formed with an extended portion positioned within said opening, a sleeve surrounding said pin with an annular space therebetween and having press tit in said hub, and a shim interposed between said conical head and the adjacent end of said sleeve, positioning of said extended portion within said opening in said ange preventing 'substantial lateral movement between said pin and said valve disk. l

13; In a Valve, a valve seat surrounding a valve port, a valve operating arm pivotedV for swinging movement toward and away from said valve seat, a pin carried by said arm for swinging movement therewith, said pin comprising a headhaving agenerally conical portion and having an end portion, a valve disk having a valve facing on one side provided with a sealing surface, said valve disk having a bore entering the opposite side thereof and lalso havingY an annular ange at the base of said bore tapering inwardly-toward said valve facing surface and provided with an axial aperture, said pin being received in said bore with said end portion thereof loosely disposed Vwithinsaid flange aperture'and with said generally conical vportion in fulcruming abutment with said annular ange adjacent said flange aperture and in close proximityrto the plane of said sealing surface, and a sleeve having a press lit in said bore and surrounding said pin with an n annular space therebetween, said sleeve at its inner end loosely abutting an abutment on said pin at the adjacent end of said head, said valve disk upon movement of said arm toward said valve seat being adapted to initially engage the valve seat in tilted relation thereto followed by rocking of the valve disk into full closed engagement with said valve seat with minimum lateral wiping action of said valve disk sealing surface on said valve seat in such rocking movement, positioning of said head end portion within said flange aperture preventing substantial lateral movement between said pin and disk.

References Cited in the tile of this patent 

